A faction of the New Nigeria Peoples Party (NNPP) has made a significant announcement regarding the party’s 2023 presidential candidate, Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso, and other prominent members.
The faction, led by Major Agbo, is initiating an investigation into allegations of fund misappropriation. Specifically, they accuse Kwankwaso and his loyalists of mishandling over N1 billion obtained from the sale of nomination forms.
Accusations and Statements
During a meeting held at the Abuja National Secretariat, the faction released a statement through its National Publicity Secretary, Abdulsalam Abdulrasaq.
Besides Kwankwaso, the faction also accuses Buba Galadima, a chieftain of the NNPP, of showing favoritism and imposing specific party candidates over others.
According to the statement, the NNPP is committed to conducting a thorough probe into the mismanagement of funds raised from the sale of forms to aspirants from March 2022 to the present.
They intend to involve relevant security agencies to scrutinize the party’s accounts and demand explanations from key figures, including the presidential candidate, the party’s chairman who left in March 2023, the ousted acting chairman, and the National Secretary.
The aim is to restore the confidence of party members and candidates who invested their hard-earned money in purchasing forms.
Additionally, the faction questions the placement of the Situation Room in the presidential candidate’s personal residence, which they argue facilitated corruption and manipulation.
To address this, a committee will be established to investigate the matter. They also invite written complaints from candidates who feel shortchanged after making form payments.
Withdrawal from Agreements and Calls for Fairness
The faction emphasizes that they have withdrawn from previous Memorandums of Understanding with the Kwankwasiya Movement and The National Movement.
They assert that these groups prioritize the interests of their sole owner and do not align with the party’s policy of inclusivity.
Abdulrasaq, speaking on behalf of the faction, pledges to investigate why the party appeared to favor Kwankwaso while allegedly denying other aspirants the opportunity to purchase forms and participate in the primary election.
They believe this goes against the party’s principles of fairness and equity.
The faction calls on its members and supporters to remain calm in the face of these developments and urges aggrieved and displaced members to return to the party. They plan to overhaul the party’s structures at all levels nationwide in the coming days and weeks.
Counter Response
In response to the allegations of fund misappropriation, the National Auditor of the NNPP, Ladipo Johnson, defends Kwankwaso, asserting that those accusing him have been expelled from the party.
He dismisses the allegations against Kwankwaso as baseless and highlights that these individuals are no longer members of the party.
Johnson questions why the allegations were only raised after the factional leaders were expelled and suggests that there might be ulterior motives behind their actions.
In summary, this development within the NNPP reveals internal disputes, allegations of financial misconduct, and a faction’s determination to investigate and address these issues, while party leaders counter these allegations and emphasize the expulsion of those making the claims.
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